Florida Supreme Court seeking 71 new judgeships

Posted: December 21, 2012 - 11:58pm

The Associated Press

Correction: According to a release by the Florida Supreme Court, the need for a total of 71 new judgeships — 48 county and 23 circuit — has been certified. Also, St. Johns County has been certified for an additional county judge.

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Florida’s crime rate may be falling, but the state Supreme Court on Thursday said 71 more trial court judges still are needed, due largely to high workloads from budget cuts and a glut of mortgage foreclosure cases.

The justices made similar requests to the Legislature in each of the past six years, but lawmakers have authorized no additional judgeships.

This time the justices are asking for 48 county judges, whose duties include misdemeanor and traffic cases, and 23 circuit judges, who handle felony cases as well as foreclosures and large lawsuits. The high court is not seeking more judgeships for the five district courts of appeal.

Among the requests is one that could affect St. Johns County. The 7th Circuit, which includes Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties, is requesting two judges. One of those new positions could be used here, and Flagler County also is in need of another judge.

“Certainly, we have needed more circuit judges throughout the circuit and in St. Johns County,” said circuit Judge John Alexander, who is the administrative judge in the county.

“We are a busy court going all the time. Assignment of more judges is badly needed.”

The high court is asking for three circuit judges each in the 1st Circuit, which covers the western Panhandle, and the 5th, which encompasses Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

The other circuit court requests are two judges in the 20th in southwest Florida. They’re also requesting one each for the Jacksonville-based 4th; the Orlando-based 9th; the West Palm Beach-based 15th; the 6th, encompassing Pinellas and Pasco counties; the 14th, covering the central Panhandle; and the 19th, including Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.

The justices acknowledged in an unsigned opinion that state revenues are gradually improving but continue to lag and that the crime rate has fallen, reducing the number of felony, domestic relations and juvenile cases.

But they also noted that probate and civil cases are up slightly and that Florida remains a national leader in foreclosure cases.

“Due to the severity and protracted nature of the crisis, our trial courts continue to struggle with heavy pending caseloads and the slow resurgence of foreclosure filings,” the justices wrote.

They added that the foreclosure situation is having a ripple effect throughout the court system and that judges take on extra duties formerly handled by staffers whose jobs have been eliminated due to budget cuts.

Alexander said the St. Johns County court handles about 3,800 foreclosure cases each year. That has created a giant workload before factoring in any other type of cases — of which there are many.

“It’s a phenomenon all over the country,” Alexander said. “This is a trial court issue. I’m hoping they (legislators) will take it seriously.”

Along with Alexander, the 7th Circuit has three other judges in St. Johns County: newly assigned Howard Maltz, Clyde Taylor and Michael Traynor.

There are also two county judges here: Alexander Christine Jr. and Charles Tinlin.

Getting another county judge would be a great help, Alexander said. St. Johns was listed as one of the counties on the Supreme Court request.

“We certainly need another county judge,” Alexander said.

The request for additional county judges includes 11 for Miami-Dade, six for Broward, five each for Duval and Palm Beach, four for Hillsborough, three for Orange, two each for Volusia and Lee, and one each for Citrus, Lake, Marion, Flagler, Osceola, Manatee, Sarasota, Seminole and St. Lucie.

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Stuart Korfhage of The St. Augustine Record contributed to this story.

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